Preparing students for standardized tests doesn’t have to mean endless drills and last-minute cramming. This blog post explores simple, stress-free strategies to seamlessly integrate test prep into everyday lessons. Learn how to embed test-style questions naturally, reinforce academic vocabulary, and build students' confidence without sacrificing engagement.

Differentiation doesn’t have to mean hours of extra planning! This post shares five practical, time-saving differentiation strategies that help classroom teachers support individual student needs in literacy without overwhelming prep work. Learn how to use pre-leveled reading passages, sentence starters, vocabulary activities, flexible grouping, and technology to meet diverse student needs efficiently. Plus, get insights from other experienced educators on how they differentiate instruction in engaging and manageable ways.

Discover 4 simple reading strategies to re-engage students after winter break! From new book ideas and fun reading challenges to interactive read-alouds and group projects, these classroom tips will help students rebuild their love for reading. Plus, grab free resources to make implementation even easier!

Close reading helps students gain skills that will help them grow as complete learners. In this blog post, I’m sharing more about why close reading is so important for our students and practical ways teachers can incorporate close reading into our classrooms.

If you’re not already sold on using task cards in your classroom or if you would like to use them even more effectively, keep reading! Today I’m going to dive into what task cards are and how they benefit you and your students.

We’ve talked about how students can only become stronger readers by reading. And we’ve talked about how providing students with choice builds enthusiasm for reading as well as reading stamina. And of course, we’ve talked about how traditional reading logs do little to support goals for student reading. See previous blog posts here, here, and here.

If you’ve read the blog posts linked above, you know why I developed a new kind of reading log. And you know what a difference it made with my students. My year-long editable reading logs are available in my TPT store. I have them available for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades.

I wanted to walk you through how to use these reading logs. Click below to watch the video. I’ll also take you through the steps below.

Have you ever told a student he couldn’t choose a particular book to read because it wasn’t the right level for him and seen the light go out of his eyes? I have. Learn what classroom practices kill students’ love of reading and what to do instead.

Teachers need a way to hold students accountable for getting their reading practice in. The result? Reading logs. For reading logs to be successful in your classroom, you need your students to get on board. Here’s how to accomplish that while also getting parents on board.

Are you looking to start Literature Circles or Book Clubs with your upper elementary students, but don’t know which books to use? I have a short list of titles - some new and some classic - to get you started. You’ll find a range of reading levels and genres included including a graphic novel or two, which are perfect for reluctant readers.

All Types of Books Perfect for Valentine's Day |  Whether you’re looking for mentor texts for guided reading, popular kids titles for close reading activities, or just the best kids books to celebrate school holidays, this list is for you. Includes picture and chapter books, kids poetry books, and children’s read alouds. | everythingjustso.org #valentinesday #booklists #valentinesdaybooks #upperelementary

I'm always hearing from teachers looking for ways to get their students engaged and excited about reading. It seems to be an all-too-common trend that kids love the reading life, and then it just sort of starts to fizzle out.

Sound familiar?

If you're looking for a simple way to get your classroom excited about reading, Literature Circles are calling your name!

Literature Circles are a great way to expose your students to different genres of books, differentiate instruction, and let them talk about what they are reading. Using Literature Circles in my classroom was a game changer for me.

When you first introduce this type of group work, it can be overwhelming to have multiple groups reading different texts. So I’m sharing four tips for launching Literature Circles successfully in your Upper Elementary classroom to help alleviate some of that overwhelm.

As reading teachers, one of our biggest goals is to instill a love of reading in our students while building comprehension skills. One of the best ways to accomplish both is by utilizing strategies such as Literature Circles or Book Clubs. While many people use the terms synonymously, they’re actually quite different. Which strategy is best for your Upper Elementary students? Let’s take a look at both.

When teaching character skills, it’s often helpful to start with a children’s book. To support my monthly thankful for kindness writing, I compiled a list of popular children’s books that are perfect mentor texts. These are the best children’s books I’ve found for kindness.

April is National Poetry Month. Whether you’re looking for fresh ideas to use in the month of April or all through the year, these ten simple resources will help encourage a love of poetry in your upper elementary students. Use these popular children’s books, teaching resources, and other materials to broaden students understanding and appreciation of poetry.

Improve your ability to match your students with books they love simply by expanding your knowledge of children’s books. Staying current on what’s new in children’s literature can be overwhelming with the vast number of books published every year. These five resources will keep you current and help you make book recommendations like a pro.